Display device including position input function

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device 10 includes pixel electrodes 11g that are spaced apart from each other, touch electrodes 14, each of which forms a capacitance with a finger, which is a position input body performing position input, to detect a position of input by the finger, which is the position input body, a touch line 15 that is sandwiched between adjacent pixel electrodes 11g and is connected to the touch electrodes 14, and at least two source lines 11j that extend parallel to the touch line 15. The source lines 11j transmit image signals to the pixel electrodes 11g. The source lines 11j are disposed such that one of the two pixel electrodes 11g is sandwiched between the touch line 15 and one of the two source lines 11j and another one of the two pixel electrodes 11g is sandwiched between another one of the two source lines 11j and the touch line 15.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device including a positioninput function.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a touch screen panel integrated display device disclosedin Patent Document 1 has been known as an example of a touch screenpanel integrated display device in which a touch screen panel isembedded in a display panel in an in-cell type. The touch screen panelintegrated display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes: apanel that has data lines formed along a first direction, gate linesformed along a second direction, and electrodes grouped into electrodegroups; a touch integrated circuit that applies a touch drive signal toall or some of the electrodes in a case where a driving mode is a touchdriving mode; a data driving portion that supplies a data voltage to thedata lines in a case where the driving mode is a display driving mode;and a gate driving portion that sequentially supplies a scan signal tothe gate lines in the case where the driving mode is the display drivingmode. The touch drive signal or a signal corresponding to the touchdrive signal is applied to all or some of the gate lines in the casewhere the driving mode is the touch driving mode.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2015-122057

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the touch screen panel integrated display device described in PatentDocument 1 described above, a data line to which a data voltage relatedto image display is supplied and a signal line to which a touch drivesignal related to touch detection is supplied are arranged so as tooverlap each other with a first protective layer interposedtherebetween. For this reason, it becomes easy for a parasiticcapacitance to be generated between the data line and the signal line,such that there was a possibility that sensitivity related to touchdetection may be deteriorated or display quality may be deteriorated,for example, when displaying an intermediate gradation.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention has been completed on the basis of the abovesituation, and an object of the present invention is to improvesensitivity and display quality in position detection.

Means for Solving the Problem

A display device including a position input function according to thepresent invention includes: pixel electrodes spaced apart from eachother; position detection electrodes, each of which is configured toform a capacitance with a position input body with which position inputis performed to detect a position of the position input performed withthe position input body; a position detection line sandwiched betweentwo of the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other and connected to theposition detection electrode; and at least two signal lines extendingparallel to the position detection line to transmit image signalssupplied to the pixel electrodes. The signal lines are disposed suchthat one of the two of the pixel electrodes is sandwiched between theposition detection line and one of the signal lines and another one ofthe two of the pixel electrodes is sandwiched between the positiondetection line and another one of the two signal lines.

According to this configuration, the pixel electrodes are charged topotentials defined based on the image signals supplied through thesignal lines and an image is display. On the other hand, the positiondetection electrodes form the capacitance with the position input bodywith which the position input is performed to detect the position of theinput performed with the position input body based on a signal suppliedthrough the position detection line.

Because the at least two signal lines are disposed such that one of thetwo of the pixel electrodes is sandwiched between the position detectionline and one of the at least two signal lines and another one of the twoof the pixel electrodes is sandwiched between the position detectionline and another one of the at least two signal lines, the at least twosignal lines do not to overlap the position detection line. Therefore,parasitic capacitances are less likely to appear between the positiondetection line and the signal lines, and thus sensitivity and displayquality in position detection improve. In addition, because each of thesignal lines is not sandwiched between the two pixel electrodessandwiching the position detection line, the number of the signal linesand space for the signal lines are reduced in comparison to aconfiguration in which the signal lines are disposed adjacent to thepixel electrodes, respectively. According to the configuration, a highdefinition, a narrow frame, and a high aperture ratio are achieved.

Preferable embodiments of the present invention may have the followingconfigurations.

(1) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a conductive film that includes sections from which at leastsections of the position detection line and the signal lines are formed.According to this configuration, the at least sections of the positiondetection line and the signal lines can be provided through patterningof one conductive film. wherein comparison to a configuration in whichthe position detection line and the signal lines are provided throughpatterning of different conductive films, the number of photomasksrequired for the patterning can be reduced and thus a producing cost canbe reduced.

(2) The conductive film may include at least a transparent electrodefilm from which the pixel electrodes are formed. According to thisconfiguration, the pixel electrodes are provided through patterning ofthe transparent electrode film from which the the position detectionline and the signal lines are formed. Thus, the number of photomasksrequired for the patterning can be further reduced and the producingcost can be further reduced.

(3) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a first transparent electrode film, a second transparentelectrode film, and a metal film. The pixel electrodes or the positiondetection electrodes may be formed from the first transparent electrodefilm. The pixel electrodes or the position detection electrodes that arenot formed from the first transparent electrode film may be formed fromthe second transparent electrode film. The second transparent electrodefilm may be disposed such that an inter-transparent electrode filminsulating film is between the first transparent electrode film and thesecond transparent electrode film. The metal film may be disposed on anopposite side from the second transparent electrode film with respect tothe first transparent electrode film such that an interlayer insulatingfilm is between the first transparent electrode film and the metal film.The conductive film may include at least the metal film. According tothis configuration, a distance between the position detection line and acorresponding one of the position detection electrodes and a distancebetween each of the signal lines and a corresponding one of the positiondetection electrodes are increased by a thickness of the interlayerinsulating film in comparison to a configuration including theconductive film and the first transparent electrode film. Thus, aparasitic capacitance is less likely to appear between the positiondetection line and the corresponding position detection electrode oreach of the signal lines and the corresponding position detectionelectrode and thus sensitivity and display quality in the positiondetection improve.

(4) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a common electrode that is disposed to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrodes such that the inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film is between the common electrode and the pixelelectrodes. The common electrode may include divided sections configuredas the position detection electrodes. The inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film may have a thickness smaller than a thickness ofthe interlayer insulating film. According to this configuration, adistance between each of the pixel electrodes and the common electrodeis reduced. Thus, an electric field generated between each of the pixelelectrodes and the common electrode (particularly, an electric field ina horizontal direction with respect to a substrate in the liquid crystaldisplay device in a horizontal electric field mode) is stronger. Thedisplay quality further improves. On the other hand, the interlayerinsulating film has a thickness larger than the thickness of theinter-transparent electrode film insulating film such that a distancebetween the position detection line and the corresponding positiondetection electrode or between each of the signal lines and the positiondetection electrode is increased. Thus, a parasitic capacitance isfurther less likely to appear between the position detection line andthe corresponding position detection electrode or between each of thesignal lines and the corresponding position detection electrode.Therefore, the sensitivity and the display quality in the positiondetection further improve.

(5) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a first transparent electrode film, a second transparentelectrode film, and a metal film. The pixel electrodes or the positiondetection electrodes may be formed from the first transparent electrodefilm. The pixel electrodes or the position detection electrodes that arenot formed form the first transparent electrode film may be formed fromthe second transparent electrode film. The second transparent electrodefilm may be disposed such that an inter-transparent electrode filminsulating film is between the first transparent electrode film and thesecond transparent electrode film. The metal film may be disposed on anopposite side from the second transparent electrode film with respect tothe first transparent electrode film such that an interlayer insulatingfilm is between the first transparent electrode film and the metal film.The first transparent electrode film may include a section from which atleast a section of the position detection line is formed. The metal filmmay include sections from which at least sections of the signal linesare formed. According to this configuration, a distance between each ofthe signal lines and the position detection electrode is increased by athickness of the interlayer insulating film in comparison to aconfiguration in which not only the section of the position detectionline but also at least the sections of the signal lines are formed fromthe first transparent electrode film. According to the configuration, aparasitic capacitance is less likely to appear between each of thesignal lines and the position detection electrode. Thus, sensitivity anddisplay quality in the position detection further improve.

(6) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a first transparent electrode film, a second transparentelectrode film, and a metal film. The pixel electrodes or the positiondetection electrodes may be formed from the first transparent electrodefilm. The pixel electrodes or the position detection electrodes that arenot formed from the first transparent electrode film may be formed fromthe second transparent electrode film. The second transparent electrodefilm may be disposed such that an inter-transparent electrode filminsulating film is between the first transparent electrode film and thesecond transparent electrode film. The metal film may be disposed on anopposite side from the second transparent electrode film with respect tothe first transparent electrode film such that an interlayer insulatingfilm is between the first transparent electrode film and the metal film.The metal film may may include sections from which at least sections ofthe signal lines are formed and a section from which a first positiondetection line included in the position detection line is formed. Thefirst transparent electrode film may include a section from which asecond position detection line is formed. The section is disposed tooverlap the first position detection line included in the positiondetection line and connected to the first position detection linethrough a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film.According to this configuration, even if one of the first positiondetection line and the second position detection line is broken but theother one of the first position detection line and the second positiondetection line is not broken, the position detection line can exert itselectrical function. Namely, this configuration is preferable forensuring redundancy. Further, the first position detection line formedfrom the metal film and the second position detection line formed thefirst transparent electrode film overlap each other and the firstposition detection line and the second position detection line areconnected to each other through the contact hole in the interlayerinsulating film. Therefore, a line resistance of the position detectionline can be reduced and thus sensitivity in the position detectionfurther improves. At least the sections of the signal lines are formedfrom the second metal film. In comparison to a configuration in which atleast sections of the signal lines are formed from the first transparentelectrode film, a distance between each the signal lines and theposition detection electrode is increased by a thickness of theinterlayer insulating film. Thus, a parasitic capacitance is less likelyto appear between each of the signal line and the position detectionelectrode and thus the sensitivity and the display quality in theposition detection further improve.

(7) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude scan lines and switching components. The scan lines extend tocross the signal lines and the position detection line to transmit scansignals. The switching components may be connected to the pixelelectrodes, the signal lines, and the scan lines. The switchingcomponents may be driven according to the scan signals to charge thepixel electrodes to potentials defined based on the image signals. Everytwo of the scan lines may be sandwiched between the pixel electrodesadjacent to each other. The switching components may be spaced apartfrom and be parallel to each other. At least two of the switchingcomponents may be connected to the scan lines, respectively. The atleast two of the switching elements may be connected to a correspondingone of the signal lines. The at least two of the switching componentsmay be connected to at least two of pixel electrodes that sandwich thecorresponding one of the signal lines. According to this configuration,when input timings of scan signals to the scan lines are shifted fromeach other and the image signals are input to the signal lines insynchronization with the input timings, the at least two of theswitching components are driven at different timings. Further, the atleast two of the pixel electrodes sandwiching each of the signal linescan be charged to the potentials defined based on the image signalsinput to the signal line at different timings.

(8) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a common electrode that is disposed to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrodes such that an insulating film is between thecommon electrode and the pixel electrodes. The common electrode mayinclude divided sections configured as the position detectionelectrodes. The common electrode may include partition openings by whichthe position detection electrodes adjacent to each other are separatedfrom each other. At least sections of the partition openings in thecommon electrode may be between the two of the scan lines. According tothis configuration, the partition openings are provided with effectiveuse of space between the scan lines. Therefore, a high aperture ratiocan be maintained in comparison to a configuration in which thepartition openings are located to overlap the pixel electrodes. Further,this configuration is preferable for leveling parasitic capacitancesbetween the common electrode and the scan lines to a configuration inwhich the partition openings overlap one of the scan lines but notoverlap the other one of the scan lines. Further, according to theconfiguration, an electric field generated between each of the scanlines and the common electrode can be shielded by the common electrode.Therefore, disorder in alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is lesslikely to occur during control of the alignment of the liquid crystalmolecules by the electric field between the common electrode and thepixel electrodes.

(9) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a common electrode that is disposed to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrodes such that an insulating film is between thecommon electrode and the pixel electrodes. The common electrode mayinclude divided sections configured as the position detectionelectrodes. The position detection line may be connected to the positiondetection electrodes through contact holes in the insulating filmbetween the scan lines. The contact hole through wick one of theposition detection electrodes, which is one of the divided sections ofthe common electrode, is connected to the position detection line isformed in the insulating film between the common electrode and the pixelelectrode. According to the configuration, disorder tends to occuraround the contact hole in alignment of the liquid crystal moleculeswhen the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled by theelectric field generated between the pixel electrode and the commonelectrode. Because the contact hole is located between the scan linesand away from the pixel electrode that contributes to image display,display failures due to the contact hole are less likely to occur andthus a high aperture ratio can be maintained.

(10) The position detection electrode may include signal lineoverlapping openings that overlap at least sections of the signal lines.In this configuration, the position detection electrode includes thesignal line overlapping openings that overlap at least sections of thesignal lines. Therefore, a parasitic capacitance between each of thesignal lines and the position detection electrode can be reduced. Thus,the sensitivity and the display quality in the position detectionfurther improve.

(11) The position detection electrodes may include position detectionline overlapping openings that overlap at least sections of the positiondetection line. In this configuration, the position detection electrodesinclude the position detection line overlapping openings that overlap atleast the sections of the position detection line. Therefore, aparasitic capacitance between the position detection line and each ofthe position detection electrodes can be reduced. Thus, the sensitivityin the position detection further improves.

(12) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a common electrode that is disposed to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrodes such that an insulating film is between thecommon electrode and the pixel electrodes. The common electrode mayinclude divided sections defined as the position detection electrodes.The common electrode may include partition openings by which theposition detection electrodes adjacent to each other are separated fromeach other. The partition openings in the common electrode may overlapat least sections of the signal lines or the position detection line. Inthis configuration, the partition openings that separate the positiondetection electrodes adjacent to each other from each other overlap atleast the sections of the signal lines or the position detection line.According to the configuration, parasitic capacitances between thesignal lines and the position detection electrodes or parasiticcapacitances between the position detection line and the positiondetection electrodes can be reduced. The parasitic capacitances can bereduced using the partition openings, which are existing structures. Ahigher aperture ratio can be maintained in comparison to a configurationin which the partition openings overlap the pixel electrodes but notoverlap the signal lines or the position detection line.

(13) The partition openings in the common electrode may overlap at leastthe sections of the position detection lines. If the partition openingsare located to overlap at least sections of the signal lines, thepartition openings may not overlap both signal lines. That is, one ofthe signal lines may not overlap the partition openings resulting inunevenness in load of the signal lines. As described above, thepartition openings overlap at least the sections of the positiondetection lines. Therefore, loads of the at least two signal lines canbe maintained even. Thus, display failures such as luminance unevennessare less likely to occur and parasitic capacitances between the positiondetection line and the position detection electrodes can be reduced.

(14) The display device with a position input function may furtherinclude a display area, a non-display area, a driving circuit, signallead lines, and position detection lead lines. At least the pixelelectrodes, the position detection electrodes, the position detectionlines, and the signal lines may be disposed in the display area todisplay an image. The non-display area may surround the display area.The driving circuit may be mounted in the non-display area. The signallead lines may be disposed in the non-display area. The signal leadlines may include first ends connected to the signal lines and secondends connected to the driving circuit. The position detection lead linesmay be disposed in the non-display area. The position detection linesmay include first ends connected to the position detection lines andsecond ends connected to the driving circuit portion. The signal leadlines and the position detection lead lines may extend parallel to eachother. According to this configuration, signals output from the drivingcircuit are transmitted to the signal lines through the signal leadlines and to the position detection lines through the position detectionlead lines, respectively. Because the signal lead lines and the positiondetection lead lines extend parallel to each other not to cross eachother in the middle, parasitic capacitances are less likely to appearbetween the signal lead lines and the position detection lead lines.Therefore, sensitivity and display quality in position detectionimprove.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the sensitivity and the displayquality in the position detection improve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a plane arrangement of touchelectrodes, touch lines, source lines, and the like, of a liquid crystalpanel provided in a liquid crystal display device according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a pixel arrangement of an arraysubstrate constituting a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a pixel arrangement of an arraysubstrate constituting a liquid crystal panel according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a connection place between a touchelectrode and a touch line.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a connection place between a touchelectrode and a touch line.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a plane arrangement of touchelectrodes, touch lines, source lines, and the like, of a liquid crystalpanel provided in a liquid crystal display device according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to anotherembodiment (1) of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to anotherembodiment (2) of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to anotherembodiment (3) of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to anotherembodiment (4) of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the vicinity of the centerof a pixel portion in a liquid crystal panel according to anotherembodiment (5) of the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the present embodiment, a liquid crystaldisplay device (display device with a position input function) 10 havinga touch panel function (position input function) is exemplified. Itshould be noted that an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis are illustratedin a part of each drawing, and each axis direction is drawn to be adirection illustrated in each drawing. In addition, an upper side inFIGS. 3 to 6 is a front side, and a lower side in FIGS. 3 to 6 is a backside.

The liquid crystal display device 10 includes at least a liquid crystalpanel (display panel) 11 that can display an image, and a backlightdevice (lighting device) which is an external light source thatirradiates the liquid crystal panel 11 with light for being used fordisplay, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The backlight device is arranged on aback side (back surface side) with respect to the liquid crystal panel11 and includes a light source (for example, a light emitting diode(LED)) that emits white light, an optical member that converts the lightfrom the light source into planar light by imparting an optical actionto the light from the light source, or the like. Note that illustrationof the backlight device is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the liquid crystal panel 11, a centralportion of a screen is a display area (a range surrounded by analternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1) AA in which an image isdisplayed, while a frame-like outer peripheral portion surrounding thedisplay area AA on the screen is a non-display area NAA in which theimage is not displayed. A driver (driving circuit portion) 12 and aflexible substrate (signal transmission portion) 13 are mounted ascomponents for supplying various signals related to a display functionor a touch panel function, in the non-display area NAA of the liquidcrystal panel 11. The driver 12 includes a large scale integration (LSI)chip having a driving circuit therein, is mounted in the non-displayarea NAA of the liquid crystal panel 11 in a chip on glass (COG) manner,and processes various signals transmitted by the flexible substrate 13.The flexible substrate 13 has a structure in which multiple linepatterns (not illustrated) are formed on a substrate formed of asynthetic resin material (for example, a polyimide-based resin) havingan insulating property and flexibility, and has one end connected to thenon-display area NAA of the liquid crystal panel 11 and the other endconnected to a control board (signal supply source) (not illustrated).Various signals supplied from the control board are transmitted to theliquid crystal panel 11 through the flexible substrate 13, are processedby the driver 12 in the non-display area NAA, and are then output to thedisplay area AA.

The liquid crystal panel 11 will be described in detail. The liquidcrystal panel 11 includes a pair of substrates 11 a and 11 b and aliquid crystal layer (medium layer) 11 c arranged in an internal spacebetween both the substrates 11 a and 11 b and including liquid crystalmolecules which are a material whose optical characteristics are changedas an electric field is applied, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and theliquid crystal layer 11 c is surrounded and sealed by a seal portion(not illustrated) interposed between both the substrates 11 a and 11 b.A front side substrate (front surface side substrate) of the pair ofsubstrates 11 a and 11 b is a color filter (CF) substrate (countersubstrate) 11 a, and a back side substrate (back surface side substrate)is an array substrate (active matrix substrate or component substrate)11 b. Both of the CF substrate 11 a and the array substrate 11 b areformed by laminating various films on an inner surface side of a glasssubstrate formed of glass. A negative liquid crystal is used as a liquidcrystal material used for the liquid crystal layer 11 c. Note thatpolarizing plates (not illustrated) are attached to outer surface sidesof both the substrates 11 a and 11 b, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, multiple thin film transistors (TFTs)(switching components) 11 f and multiple pixel electrodes 11 g areprovided in a matrix shape side by side along an X-axis direction and aY-axis direction on an inner surface side (a side of the liquid crystallayer 11 c or a surface side facing the CF substrate 11 a) in thedisplay area AA of the array substrate 11 b. Gate lines (scan lines) 11i and source lines (signal lines or data lines) 11 j orthogonal to(intersecting with) each other are arranged in the vicinity of theseTFTs 11 f and pixel electrodes 11 g. The gate line 11 i extendssubstantially straightly along the X-axis direction, while the sourceline 11 j extends substantially straightly along the Y-axis direction.The gate line 11 i and the source line 11 j are connected to a gateelectrode 11 f 1 and a source electrode 11 f 2 of the TFT 11 f,respectively, and the pixel electrode 11 g is connected to a drainelectrode 11 f 3 of the TFT 11 f. The TFT 11 f is driven on the basis ofvarious signals each supplied to the gate line 11 i and the source line11 j, and the supply of a potential to the pixel electrode 11 g iscontrolled according to the driving of the TFT 11 f. The pixel electrode11 g has a plane shape of a vertically long substantially rectangularshape, and a short side direction of the pixel electrode 11 g coincideswith an extending direction of the gate line 11 i and a long sidedirection thereof coincides with an extending direction of the sourceline 11 j. An arrangement or the like of the TFT 11 f, the pixelelectrode 11 g, the gate line 11 i, and the source line 11 j will bedescribed again later. In addition, the non-display area NAA of thearray substrate 11 b is provided with a gate circuit portion GDM forsupplying a scan signal to the gate line 11 i, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a common electrode 11 h is formed on anupper layer side (side close to the liquid crystal layer 11 c) above thepixel electrodes 11 g so as to overlap all the pixel electrodes 11 g, onthe inner surface side of the display area AA of the array substrate 11b. The common electrode 11 h is always supplied with a substantiallyconstant reference potential and extends over substantially the entiredisplay area AA, and multiple (three in FIG. 2) pixel overlappingopenings (pixel overlapping slits or alignment control slits) 11 h 1extending along a long side direction of the respective pixel electrodes11 g are opened and formed in portions of the common electrode 11 hoverlapping the respective pixel electrodes 11 g (pixel electrode bodieshigh to be described in detail later). When a potential difference isgenerated between the pixel electrode 11 g and the common electrode 11 hoverlapping each other as the pixel electrode 11 g is charged, a fringeelectric field (oblique electric field) including a component in anormal direction to a plate surface of the array substrate 11 b inaddition to a component along the plate surface of the array substrate11 b is generated between an opening edge of the pixel overlappingopening 11 h 1 and the pixel electrode 11 g, and an alignment state ofthe liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 11 ccan thus be controlled using the fringe electric field. That is, anoperation mode of the liquid crystal panel 11 according to the presentembodiment is a fringe field switching (FFS) mode. Note that a casewhere the number of pixel overlapping openings 11 h 1 is three has beenexemplified in the present embodiment, but if at least one pixeloverlapping opening 11 h 1 is provided, it is possible to exert analignment control function and a display function. In addition, anextending direction of the pixel overlapping openings 11 h 1 is notlimited to one direction, and the pixel overlapping openings 11 h 1 maybe bent in a “V” shape within one pixel portion PX or the pixeloverlapping openings 11 h 1 may extend in different directions in pixelportions PX adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, three color filters 11 k exhibiting blue (B),green (G), and red (R) are provided in the display area AA on an innersurface side of the CF substrate 11 a. The multiple color filters 11 kexhibiting different colors are repeatedly arranged along the gate lines11 i (X-axis direction), and extend along the source lines 11 j(approximately the Y-axis direction), such that they are arranged in astripe shape as a whole. These color filters 11 k are arranged so as tooverlap the respective pixel electrodes 11 g on a side of the arraysubstrate 11 b when viewed in a plane. The color filters 11 k adjacentto each other in the X-axis direction and exhibiting the differentcolors are arranged such that a boundary (color boundary) therebetweenoverlaps the source line 11 j and a light blocking portion 111 to bedescribed below. In the liquid crystal panel 11, the R, G, B colorfilters 11 k arranged along the X-axis direction and three pixelelectrodes 11 g each facing the color filters 11 k constitutethree-color pixel portions PX, respectively. In the liquid crystal panel11, display pixels configured to display a color having a predeterminedgradation are configured by the three-color pixel portions PX of R, G,and B adjacent to each other along the X-axis direction. An arrangementpitch of the pixel portions PX in the X-axis direction is, for example,about 10 μm to 30 μm.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a light blocking portion (inter-pixellight blocking portion or black matrix) 111 blocking light is formed inthe display area AA on the inner surface side of the CF substrate 11 a.The light blocking portion 111 has a plane shape of a substantiallylattice shape so as to partition between adjacent pixel portions PX(pixel electrodes 11 g), and has pixel openings 1111 at positionsoverlapping most of the pixel electrodes 11 g on a side of the arraysubstrate 11 b when viewed in a plane. The multiple pixel openings 1111are arranged side by side in a matrix shape along the X-axis directionand the Y-axis direction within a plate surface of the CF substrate 11a. The pixel opening 1111 has a plane shape of a vertically longsubstantially rectangular shape according to an external shape of thepixel electrode 11 g, and a short side dimension of the pixel opening1111 is larger than that of the pixel electrode 11 g, but a long sidedimension thereof is slightly smaller than that of the pixel electrode11 g. The pixel opening 1111 can transmit light, such that display onthe pixel portion PX becomes possible. The light blocking portion 111functions to prevent light from passing between the adjacent pixelportions PX to ensure independence of gradations of each pixel portionPX, and particularly a portion of the light blocking portion 111extending along the source line 11 j prevents color mixture between thepixel portions PX exhibiting the different colors. The light blockingportion 111 is arranged so as to overlap at least the gate line 11 i andthe source line 11 j (also including a touch line 15 to be describedlater) on a side of the array substrate 11 b when viewed in a plane. Aplanarizing film 11 m flatly arranged over substantially the entire areaof the CF substrate 11 a is provided on an upper layer side (a side ofthe liquid crystal layer 11 c) of the color filter 11 k. Note thatalignment films (not shown) for aligning the liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the liquid crystal layer 11 c are formed, respectively, onthe innermost surfaces of both the substrates 11 a and 11 b in contactwith the liquid crystal layer 11 c.

The liquid crystal panel 11 according to the present embodiment has bothof a display function for displaying an image and a touch panel function(position input function) for detecting a position (input position)input by a user on the basis of the displayed image, and a touch panelpattern for exerting the touch panel function of these functions isintegrated (configured in an in-cell type) within the liquid crystalpanel 11. This touch panel pattern is configured in a so-calledprojection-type capacitive manner, and a detection manner of the touchpanel pattern is a self-capacitance manner. As illustrated in FIG. 1,the touch panel pattern is provided on the array substrate 11 b of thepair of substrates 11 a and 11 b, and includes touch electrodes(position detection electrodes) 14 arranged side by side in a matrixshape within the plate surface of the array substrate 11 b. The touchelectrodes 14 are arranged in the display area AA of the array substrate11 b. Therefore, the display area AA in the liquid crystal panel 11substantially coincides with a touch area (position input area) in whichthe input position can be detected, and the non-display area NAA in theliquid crystal panel 11 substantially coincides with a non-touch area(non-position input area) in which the input position cannot bedetected. When the user brings his/her finger (position input body) (notillustrated), which is a conductor, close to a front surface (displaysurface) of the liquid crystal panel 11 in order to perform positioninput on the basis of an image of the display area AA of the liquidcrystal panel 11 visually recognized by him/her, a capacitance is formedbetween the finger and the touch electrode 14. Thus, as the fingerbecomes close to the touch electrode 14, a capacitance detected by atouch electrode 14 close to the finger is changed to be different fromthat of a touch electrode 14 distant from the finger, and it is thuspossible to detect the input position on the basis of such a difference.

The touch electrodes 14 are constituted by the common electrode 11 hprovided on the array substrate 11 b, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thecommon electrode 11 h includes a partition opening (partition slit) 11 h2 partitioning between adjacent touch electrodes 14, in addition to thepixel overlapping openings 11 h 1 described above. The partition opening11 h 2 includes a portion traversing the entire length of the commonelectrode 11 h along the X-axis direction and a portion traversing theentire length of the common electrode 11 h along the Y-axis direction tohave a substantially lattice shape as a whole when viewed in a plane.The common electrode 11 h includes the touch electrodes 14 divided in agrid pattern when viewed in a plane by the partition opening 11 h 2 andelectrically independent from each other. The touch electrodes 14 formedby partitioning the common electrode 11 h by the partition opening 11 h2 are arranged side by side in a matrix shape along the X-axis directionand the Y-axis direction in the display area AA. The touch electrode 14has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in a plane, and adimension of one side of the touch electrode 14 is about several mm (forexample, about 2 to 4 mm). Therefore, a size of the touch electrode 14when viewed in a plane is much larger than that of the pixel portion PX(pixel electrode 11 g), such that the touch electrode 14 is arranged ina range over multiple (for example, about several tens or severalhundreds of) pixel portions PX in the X-axis direction and the Y-axisdirection. Touch lines (position detection lines) 15 provided on thearray substrate 11 b are selectively connected to the touch electrodes14. The touch lines 15 are orthogonal to (intersect with) the gate lines11 i on the array substrate 11 b, extend along the Y-axis direction soas to be parallel to the source lines 11 j, and are selectivelyconnected to specific touch electrodes 14 of the touch electrodes 14arranged along the Y-axis direction. Further, the touch lines 15 areconnected to a detection circuit (not illustrated). The detectioncircuit may be provided in the driver 12, but may be provided outsidethe liquid crystal panel 11 through the flexible substrate 13. The touchlines 15 supply a reference potential signal related to a displayfunction and a touch signal (position detection signal) related to atouch function to the touch electrodes 14 at different timings. Thereference potential signal of these signals is transmitted to all thetouch lines 15 at the same timing, such that all the touch electrodes 14become a reference potential to function as the common electrode 11 h.In addition, the touch line 15 has the same line width as that of thesource line 11 j. Note that FIG. 1 schematically illustrates anarrangement of the touch electrodes 14, and the specific number and anarrangement of touch electrodes 14 can be appropriately changed inaddition to those illustrated.

A connection structure between the touch electrode 14 and the touch line15 will be described. The touch line 15 is connected to the touchelectrode 14, which is a target to be connected, through a contact hole23 opened and formed in an inter-transparent electrode film insulatingfilm 21, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Although the touch lines 15 extendapproximately along the Y-axis direction so as to traverse all the touchelectrodes 14, the touch lines 15 are selectively connected only tospecific touch electrodes 14 by a plane arrangement of the contact hole23. Therefore, a touch line 15, which is a target to be connected, andtouch lines 15, which are not the target to be connected, are arrangedon the touch electrode 14 so as to overlap each other with theinter-transparent electrode film insulating film 21 interposedtherebetween.

Here, various films laminated on the inner surface side of the arraysubstrate 11 b will be described. In the array substrate 11 b, asillustrated in FIG. 3, a first metal film 16, a gate insulating film 17,a semiconductor film 18, a first transparent electrode film (aconductive film or a transparent electrode film) 19, a second metal film(a conductive film or a metal film) 20, an inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film (insulating film) 21, and a second transparentelectrode film 22 are laminated sequentially from a lower layer side(side of a glass substrate). Each of the first metal film 16 and thesecond metal film 20 is a single layer film formed of one type of metalmaterial or a laminate film or an alloy formed of different types ofmetal materials selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium,aluminum, and the like, to have conductivity and a light blockingproperty. The first metal film 16 constitutes the gate line 11 i, thegate electrode 11 f 1 of the TFT 11 f, or the like. The second metalfilm 20 constitutes parts of the source line 11 j and the touch line 15,parts of the source electrode 11 f 2 and the drain electrode 11 f 3 ofthe TFT 11 f, or the like. Each of the gate insulating film 17 and theinter-transparent electrode film insulating film 21 is formed of aninorganic material such as silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), silicon oxide(SiO₂) or the like. The gate insulating film 17 maintains the firstmetal film 16 of a lower layer side and the semiconductor film 18, thefirst transparent electrode film 19, and the second metal film 20 of anupper layer side in an insulating state. The inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film 21 maintains the semiconductor film 18, the firsttransparent electrode film 19, the second metal film 20 of a lower layerside and the second transparent electrode film 22 of an upper layer sidein an insulating state. The semiconductor film 18 is composed of a thinfilm using, for example, an oxide semiconductor, amorphous silicon orthe like as a material, and constitutes a channel portion (semiconductorportion) 11 f 4 connected to the source electrode 11 f 2 and the drainelectrode 11 f 3 in the TFT 11 f. The first transparent electrode film19 and the second transparent electrode film 22 are formed of atransparent electrode material (for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) orthe like). The first transparent electrode film 19 constitutes parts ofthe pixel electrode 11 g or the source line 11 j and the touch line 15,parts of the source electrode 11 f 2 and the drain electrode 11 f 3 ofthe TFT 11 f, or the like. The second transparent electrode film 22constitutes the common electrode 11 h (touch electrode 14) or the like.

Configurations of the TFT 11 f and the pixel electrode 11 g will bedescribed in detail. The TFT 11 f includes the gate electrode 11 f 1branched from the gate line 11 i, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thegate electrode 11 f 1 is formed by protruding a portion of the gate line11 i adjacent to the source line 11 j toward the pixel electrode 11 g,which is a target to be connected, along the Y-axis direction, and has asubstantially rectangular shape when viewed in a plane. The gateelectrode 11 f 1 drives the TFT 11 f on the basis of the scan signalsupplied to the gate line 11 i, such that a current between the sourceelectrode 11 f 2 and the drain electrode 11 f 3 is controlled. The TFT11 f has a source electrode 11 f 2 branched from the source line 11 j.The source electrode 11 f 2 is formed by protruding a portion of thesource line 11 j adjacent to the gate line 11 i toward the pixelelectrode 11 g, which is a target to be connected, along the X-axisdirection, and a projecting tip portion of the source line 11 j overlapsthe gate electrode 11 f 1 and is connected to the channel portion 11 f4. The TFT 11 f has the drain electrode 11 f 3 arranged at a positionspaced apart from the source electrode 11 f 2. The drain electrode 11 f3 has a substantially rectangular shape in which it extends in parallelwith the source electrode 11 f 2, and one end of the drain electrode 11f 3 faces the source electrode 11 f 2 to overlap the gate electrode 11 f1 and be connected to the channel portion 11 f 4, while the other end ofthe drain electrode 11 f 3 is connected to the pixel electrode 11 g. Thesource electrode 11 f 2 and the drain electrode 11 f 3 have a laminatedstructure of the first transparent electrode film 19 and the secondmetal film 20, and the first transparent electrode film 19 of a lowerlayer side of the laminated structure is in direct contact with thechannel portion 11 f 4 composed of the semiconductor film 18. On theother hand, the other end of the drain electrode 11 f 3 is directlyconnected to the pixel electrode 11 g (contact portion 11 g 2) composedof the first transparent electrode film 19.

The pixel electrode 11 g includes a pixel electrode body highoverlapping the pixel opening 1111 of the light blocking portion 111 andhaving a substantially rectangular shape and a contact portion 11 g 2protruding from the pixel electrode body high to the TFT 11 f along theY-axis direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the contactportion 11 g 2 of the pixel electrode body high and the contact portion11 g 2 is connected to the drain electrode 11 f 3. The TFT 11 f overlapsthe gate electrode 11 f 1 with the gate insulating film 17 interposedtherebetween, and has the channel portion 11 f 4 connected to the sourceelectrode 11 f 2 and the drain electrode 11 f 3. The channel portion 11f 4 extends along the X-axis direction so as to traverse the gateelectrode 11 f 1, and has one end connected to the source electrode 11 f2 and the other end connected to the drain electrode 11 f 3. When theTFT 11 f becomes a turn-on state on the basis of a scan signal suppliedto the gate electrode 11 f 1, an image signal (a signal or a datasignal) supplied to the source line 11 j is supplied from the sourceelectrode 11 f 2 to the drain electrode 11 f 3 through the channelportion 11 f 4 composed of the semiconductor film 18. As a result, thepixel electrode 11 g is charged with a potential based on the imagesignal.

Next, an arrangement of the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 willbe described in detail. The source line 11 j and the touch line 15 areeach arranged so as to extend along the Y-axis direction and besandwiched between pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to each other in theX-axis direction (direction orthogonal to (intersecting with) anextending direction of the source line 11 j and the touch line 15, asillustrated in FIG. 2. The source lines 11 j and the touch lines 15 arealternately and repeatedly arranged side by side with one pixelelectrode 11 g sandwiched therebetween in the X-axis direction. Indetail, the source lines 11 j are arranged with two pixel electrodes 11g sandwiched therebetween in the X-axis direction, while the touch lines15 are arranged with two pixel electrodes 11 g sandwiched therebetweenin the X-axis direction and with being offset from the source lines 11 jso as to be spaced apart from the source lines 11 j by one pixelelectrode 11 g in the X-axis direction. Therefore, at least two sourcelines 11 j are arranged such that two pixel electrodes 11 g sandwichingthe touch line 15 from both sides in the X-axis direction are eachsandwiched between the at least two source lines 11 j and the touch line15. Similarly, at least two touch lines 15 are arranged such that twopixel electrodes 11 g sandwiching the source line 11 j from both sidesin the X-axis direction are each sandwiched between the at least twotouch lines 15 and the source line 11 j. According to such aconfiguration, since the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 do notoverlap each other and are arranged in a non-overlapping manner, asituation in which a parasitic capacitance is generated between thesource line 11 j and the touch line 15 can be suitably avoided. Thus, itis difficult for dullness to occur in the image signal transmitted bythe source line 11 j or the touch signal transmitted by the touch line15. Therefore, sensitivity related to the position detection isimproved, and, for example, occurrence of shadowing at an intermediategradation is suppressed, such that display quality is improved. Inaddition, since the source line 11 j is not sandwiched between the twopixel electrodes 11 g sandwiching the touch line 15, the number and anarrangement space of the source lines 11 j are reduced to about half ascompared with a case where the source lines are individually arrangedadjacent to the respective pixel electrodes 11 g. Thus, a highdefinition, a narrow frame, a high aperture ratio, and the like, areachieved.

As the source line 11 j is arranged as described above, the source line11 j transmits the image signal supplied to each of the pixel electrodes11 g adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction, as illustrated inFIG. 2. That is, the image signal transmitted to the source line 11 j issupplied to each of a group (group including pixel electrodes 11 garranged along the extending direction of the source line 11 j to form acolumn shape) of two columns of pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to thesource line 11 j on the left and right sides in the X-axis direction. Inorder to transmit the image signal transmitted to the source line 11 jto each of the pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to the source line 11 j inthe X-axis direction, the gate line 11 i and the TFT 11 f are arrangedas follows. That is, a pair of gate lines 11 i are arranged so as to besandwiched between the pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to each other inthe Y-axis direction. Therefore, each pixel electrode 11 g is sandwichedbetween a pair of gate lines 11 i arranged on one side thereof in theY-axis direction and a pair of gate lines 11 i arranged on the otherside thereof in the Y-axis direction. The pair of gate lines 11 i arearranged in a space (area) provided between the pixel electrodes 11 gadjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction so as to be spaced apartfrom each other in the Y-axis direction and be parallel to each other.The space provided between the pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to eachother in the Y-axis direction is larger than a dimension obtained byadding each line width of the pair of gate lines 11 i and an intervalprovided between the pair of gate lines 11 i to each other. Thus, thegate lines 11 i and the pixel electrodes 11 g are arranged so as not tooverlap each other.

A pair of gate electrodes 11 f 1 connected to each of the pair of gatelines 11 i protrude from each gate line 11 i in directions in which theyare distant from each other in the Y-axis direction, as illustrated inFIG. 2. The gate electrode 11 f 1 connected to one gate line 11 i of thepair of gate lines 11 i and the gate electrode 11 f 1 connected to theother gate line 11 i of the pair of gate lines 11 i are arranged to beoffset with respect to the X-axis direction, and are arranged such thatthe source line 11 j is sandwiched therebetween. On the other hand, apair of source electrodes 11 f 2 connected to the source line 11 j arearranged at positions (offset position in the Y-axis direction)sandwiching the pair of gate lines 11 i in the Y-axis direction, and areprovided so as to protrude in opposite directions along the X-axisdirection. Therefore, a pair of TFTs 11 f each including the pair ofgate electrodes 11 f 1 and the pair of source electrodes 11 f 2 arearranged so as to be each connected to a pair of pixel electrodes 11 gdiagonally adjacent to each other with intersection places between thepair of gate lines 11 i and the source line 11 j interposedtherebetween. In other words, the pair of TFTs 11 f are at leastarranged so as to be connected to each of the pair of gate lines 11 i,the source line 11 j, and the pair of pixel electrodes 11 g arranged soas to sandwich the source line 11 j in the X-axis direction. With thearrangement of the TFT 11 f as described above, the pixel electrodes 11g adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction are arranged to beinverted with respect to each other in the Y-axis direction.Specifically, arrangements of the contact portions 11 g 2 with respectto the pixel electrode bodies high in the Y-axis direction are oppositeto each other. For this reason, the pixel electrode bodies high adjacentto each other in the X-axis direction and groups of the pixeloverlapping opening 11 h 1 overlapping the pixel electrode bodies highare arranged in a zigzag shape. According to the configuration asdescribed above, for example, by making input timings of the scansignals different between one gate line 11 i and the other gate line 11i, it is possible to drive one TFT 11 f and the other TFT 11 f atdifferent timings. By inputting an image signal for one TFT 11 f and animage signal for the other TFT 11 f to the source line 11 j insynchronization with the input timings of the scan signals, it ispossible to charge one pixel electrode 11 g connected to one TFT 11 fand the other pixel electrode 11 g connected to the other TFT 11 f withpotentials based on each image signal, respectively.

Both of the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 that sandwich thepixel electrode 11 g in the X-axis direction have a laminated structureof the first transparent electrode film 19 and the second metal film 20,as illustrated in FIG. 4. Therefore, in producing the array substrate 11b, in order to form the source line 11 j and the touch line 15, it issufficient to pattern the common first transparent electrode film 19 andsecond metal film 20 sequentially laminated on an upper layer side ofthe gate insulating film 17 and the semiconductor film 18. Here, ascompared with a case where the touch line and the source line areprovided, respectively, by patterning different transparent electrodefilms or metal films, photomasks or the like required for the patterningcan be reduced, and a producing cost can thus be reduced. In addition,the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 have the laminated structureof the first transparent electrode film 19 and the second metal film 20,such that it is possible to reduce a line resistance. Furthermore, sinceit is possible to cause the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 tohave redundancy, it is possible to reduce a probability of occurrence ofa disconnection. In addition, since the first transparent electrode film19 constituting parts of the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 alsoconstitutes the pixel electrode 11 g, in producing the array substrate11 b, in order to form the pixel electrode 11 g, it is sufficient topattern the source line 11 j, the touch line 15, and the common firsttransparent electrode film 19. Thus, the photomasks or the like requiredfor the patterning can be further reduced, and a producing cost can thusbe further reduced.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, in producing the arraysubstrate 11 b, the pixel electrode 11 g, the source line 11 j, and thetouch line 15 can be patterned using a single photomask. That is, inorder to pattern the pixel electrode 11 g, the source line 11 j, and thetouch line 15, the first transparent electrode film 19 and the secondmetal film 20 are successively formed, the photoresist is formed, andexposure is then performed using a halftone mask (not illustrated). Thehalftone mask has a transmissive area transmitting exposed lightirradiated from an exposure device with a transmittivity ofsubstantially 100%, a transflective area transmitting the same exposedlight with a transmittivity of, for example, about 10% to 70%, and alight blocking area blocking the same exposed light. Here, thetransmissive area or the light blocking area is arranged so as tooverlap a formation range of the source line 11 j and the touch line 15and the transflective area is arranged so as to overlap a formationrange of the pixel electrode 11 g, when viewed in a plane. When etchingis performed after performing the exposure using such a halftone mask,portions where both of the first transparent electrode film 19 and thesecond metal film 20 remain become the source line 11 j and the touchline 15, and a portion where only the first transparent electrode film19 remains becomes the pixel electrode 11 g. As described above, thepixel electrode 11 g, the source line 11 j, and the touch line 15 can bepatterned using the single photomask, which is extremely suitable forachieving a reduction in a producing cost.

The touch electrode 14 (common electrode 11 h) composed of the secondtransparent electrode film 22 is provided with a source line overlappingopening (signal line overlapping opening) 24 arranged so as to overlapat least a part of the source line 11 j and a touch line overlappingopening (position detection line overlapping opening) 25 arranged so asto overlap at least a part of the touch line 15, as illustrated in FIGS.2 and 4. The source line overlapping opening 24 and the touch lineoverlapping opening 25 extend in parallel with the Y-axis direction,which is the extending direction of the source line 11 j and the touchline 15, respectively, and have a vertically long shape (longitudinalshape having the extending direction of the source line 11 j and thetouch line 15 as a longitudinal direction) when viewed in a plane. Inaddition, the source line overlapping opening 24 and the touch lineoverlapping opening 25 have a width dimension (dimension in the X-axisdirection) larger than that of the source line 11 j or the touch line 15and equal to that of the pixel overlapping opening 11 h 1 of the commonelectrode 11 h. As such, by arranging the source line overlappingopening 24 so as to overlap at least a part of the source line 11 j, aparasitic capacitance that can be generated between the source line 11 jand the touch electrode 14 is reduced, and by arranging the touch lineoverlapping opening 25 so as to overlap at least a part of the touchline 15, a parasitic capacitance that can be generated between the touchline 15 and the touch electrode 14 that is not connected to the touchline 15 is reduced. Thus, the sensitivity and the display qualityrelated to the position detection are further improved. In addition,there is a possibility that an electric field will be generated betweenan opening edge of the source line overlapping opening 24 in the touchelectrode 14 and the source line 11 j and the alignment state of theliquid crystal material included in the liquid crystal layer 11 c willbe disordered due to the electric field, but in the present embodiment,since the liquid crystal material is the negative liquid crystal, it isdifficult for the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal material dueto the electric field described above to occur, and in particular, it isdifficult for a defect such as light leakage at the time of blackdisplay to occur.

The source line overlapping opening 24 and the touch line overlappingopening 25 (excluding a partition opening 11 h 2 to be described later)have a length dimension (a dimension in the Y-axis direction) shorterthan that of the pixel electrode 11 g and equal to that of the pixeloverlapping opening 11 h 1 of the common electrode 11 h, as illustratedin FIG. 2. The source line overlapping opening 24 and the touch lineoverlapping opening 25 (excluding a partition opening 11 h 2 to bedescribed later) are arranged to be aligned with each other in theY-axis direction and are also arranged to be approximately aligned witheach pixel overlapping opening 11 h 1 in the Y-axis direction. In moredetail, the source line overlapping opening 24 and the touch lineoverlapping opening 25 are arranged so as to be in the vicinity of thecenter of the pixel electrode 11 g (on a side distant from the gate line11 i) with respect to each pixel overlapping opening 11 h 1 arranged ina zigzag shape in the Y-axis direction. According to such aconfiguration, as compared with a case where the source line overlappingopening and the touch line overlapping opening are arranged so as not tobe aligned with the pixel overlapping opening 11 h 1 in the Y-axisdirection, it is possible to efficiently arrange the source lineoverlapping opening 24, the touch line overlapping opening 25, and thepixel overlapping opening 11 h 1, and it is possible to reduceelectrical resistance values related to the touch electrodes 14 formedby dividing the common electrode 11 h.

In the common electrode 11 h, a part of the partition opening 11 h 2partitioning between the adjacent touch electrodes 14 function as atleast either one of the source line overlapping opening 24 and the touchline overlapping opening 25, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, aportion extending along the Y-axis direction, which is a part of thepartition opening 11 h 2, is arranged so as to overlap the source line11 j or the touch line 15. Note that a case where a part of thepartition opening 11 h 2 overlaps the touch line 15 to constitute thetouch line overlapping opening 25 has been representatively exemplifiedin FIGS. 2 and 3, but a part of the partition opening 11 h 2 may alsooverlap the source line 11 j to constitute the source line overlappingopening 24. Portions of the partition opening 11 h 2 constituting thesource line overlapping opening 24 and the touch line overlappingopening 25 extend over the entire length of the display area AA in theY-axis direction, and thus overlap substantially the entire lengths ofthe source line 11 j or the touch line 15. As such, the parasiticcapacitance that can be generated between the source line 11 j and thetouch electrode 14 or the parasitic capacitance that can be generatedbetween the touch line 15 and the touch electrode 14 that is notconnected to the touch line 15 can be reduced using the partitionopening 11 h 2, which is an existing structure. In addition, an apertureratio can be kept high as compared with a case where the partitionopening are arranged so as not to overlap the source line 11 j or thetouch line 15 and so as to overlap the pixel electrode 11 g. Preferably,in the present embodiment, a part (portion extending along the Y-axisdirection) of the partition opening 11 h 2 selectively overlaps thetouch line 15 and does not overlap the source line 11 j. Here, in a casewhere a part of the partition opening is arranged so as to overlap atleast some of the source lines 11 j, since an installation interval ofthe partition opening is much wider than that of the source lines 11 j,the partition opening is not arranged so as to overlap all the multiplesource lines 11 j. Therefore, source lines 11 j that do not overlap thepartition opening among the multiple source lines 11 j are generated. Asa result, there is a possibility that loads of each source line 11 jwill become non-uniform. In that respect, as described above, a part ofthe partition opening 11 h 2 is arranged so as to selectively overlapsome of the multiple touch lines 15 and does not overlap all the sourcelines 11 j, and loads of the multiple source lines 11 j can thus be keptuniform. Thus, it is possible to suppress a display defect such asluminance unevenness or the like.

In addition, the common electrode 11 h is arranged such that a part ofthe partition opening 11 h 2 is positioned between the pair of gatelines 11 i in the Y-axis direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6.That is, a portion of the partition opening 11 h 2 extending along theX-axis direction is arranged by effectively using an interval providedbetween the pair of gate lines 11 i in the Y-axis direction so as not tooverlap the pixel electrode 11 g and each gate line 11 i. Therefore, anaperture ratio can be kept high as compared with a case where thepartition opening is arranged so as to overlap the pixel electrode 11 g,and such an arrangement is suitable for equalizing parasiticcapacitances generated between the pair of gate lines 11 i and thecommon electrode 11 h (touch electrode 14) as compared with a case wherethe partition opening is arranged so as to overlap one gate line 11 iand not to overlap the other gate line 11 i. Furthermore, since anelectric field generated between the gate lines 11 i and the commonelectrode 11 h can be shielded by the common electrode 11 h itself, itis difficult for the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the liquid crystal layer 11 c to occur.

In addition, the contact hole 23 opened and formed in theinter-transparent electrode film insulating film 21 in order to connectthe touch line 15 composed of the first transparent electrode film 19and the second metal film 20 and the touch electrode 14 composed of thesecond transparent electrode film 22 to each other is arranged so as tobe positioned between the pair of gate lines 11 i in the Y-axisdirection, as illustrated in FIG. 2. That is, the contact hole 23 isarranged by effectively using the interval provided between the pair ofgate lines 11 i in the Y-axis direction so as to be spaced apart fromthe pixel electrode 11 g, which is a structure independently exertingthe display function. Here, since the contact hole 23 is opened andformed in the inter-transparent electrode film insulating film 21interposed between the common electrode 11 h constituting the touchelectrode 14 and the pixel electrode 11 g, it is easy for the alignmentdisorder to occur in the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer 11 c in the vicinity of the contact hole 23, such thatthere is a possibility that a display defect will occur. In thatrespect, as described above, the contact hole 23 is arranged between thepair of gate lines 11 i and is arranged so as to be spaced apart fromthe pixel electrode 11 g contributing to display. Therefore, it isdifficult for a display defect caused by the contact hole 23 to occur,and an aperture ratio can thus be kept high. In addition, since thelight blocking portion 111 is arranged on a side of the CF substrate 11a so as to overlap the gate lines 11 i when viewed in a plane, it isdifficult for the alignment disorder that can occur in the liquidcrystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 11 c due to thecontact hole 23 to have an influence on the display quality.

In addition, the source lines 11 j and the touch lines 15 arranged inthe display area AA of the array substrate 11 b are connected to sourcelead lines (signal lead lines) 26 and touch lead lines (positiondetection lead lines) 27 arranged in the non-display area NAA,respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Note that, in FIG. 1,illustration of the source lines 11 j is omitted. The multiple sourcelead lines 26 and the multiple touch lead lines 27 are arranged side byside so as to be spaced apart from each other along the X-axisdirection, similar to the source lines 11 j and the touch lines 15, oneends of the source lead lines 26 and the touch lead lines 27 areconnected to end portions of the source lines 11 j and the touch lines15, respectively, while the other ends of the source lead lines 26 andthe touch lead lines 27 are led in a substantially fan shape toward amounting area of the driver 12, and terminal portions (not illustrated)connected to the driver 12 are provided at led tip portions of thesource lead lines 26 and the touch lead lines 27, respectively. Theother ends of the multiple source lead lines 26 are aggregated into acentral portion in a long side direction (X-axis direction) of thedriver 12, while the other ends of the multiple touch lead lines 27 aredivided and aggregated into two groups at both end portions in the longside direction of the driver 12, respectively. The driver 12 is providedwith each of circuits for outputting image signals to the source leadlines 26 at the central portion in the long side direction and circuitsfor outputting touch signals to the touch lead lines 27 at the both endportions in the long side direction. Note that, in FIG. 1, for thepurpose of distinction, the source lead lines 26 are illustrated bythick solid lines, and the touch lead lines 27 are illustrated by thinsolid lines.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device (display devicewith a position input function) 10 according to the present embodimentincludes the pixel electrodes 11 g that are arranged so as to be spacedapart from each other, the touch electrode (position detectionelectrode) 14 that forms a capacitance with the finger which is theposition input body performing the position input to detect an inputposition by the finger which is the position input body, the touch line(position detection line) 15 that is arranged so as to be sandwichedbetween the pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to each other and isconnected to the touch electrode 14, and at least two source lines(signal lines) 11 j that extend in parallel with the touch line 15,transmit image signals supplied to the pixel electrodes 11 g, and arearranged such that two pixel electrodes 11 g sandwiching the touch line15 are each sandwiched between the at least two source lines 11 j andthe touch line 15.

According to this configuration, the pixel electrodes 11 g are chargedwith potentials based on the image signals supplied by the source lines11 j, such that display is performed. On the other hand, the touchelectrode 14 can form the capacitance with the finger which is theposition input body performing the position input to detect the inputposition by the finger which is the position input body using a signalsupplied by the touch line 15.

Since the at least two source lines 11 j are arranged such that the twopixel electrodes 11 g sandwiching the touch line 15 are each sandwichedbetween the at least two source lines 11 j and the touch line 15, the atleast two source lines 11 j are arranged so as not to overlap the touchline 15. Therefore, the situation in which the parasitic capacitance isgenerated between the touch line 15 and the source line 11 j can besuitably avoided, and the sensitivity and the display quality related tothe position detection are thus improved. In addition, since the sourceline 11 j is not sandwiched between the two pixel electrodes 11 gsandwiching the touch line 15, the number and an arrangement space ofthe source lines 11 j are reduced as compared with a case where thesource lines are individually arranged adjacent to the respective pixelelectrodes 11 g. Thus, a high definition, a narrow frame, a highaperture ratio, and the like, are achieved.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes thefirst transparent electrode film 19 which is a conductive filmconstituting at least parts of the touch line 15 and the source line 11j. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide at leastparts of the touch line 15 and the source line 11 j by patterning thefirst transparent electrode film 19 which is the common conductive film.As compared with a case where the touch line and the source line areprovided, respectively, by patterning different conductive films,photomasks or the like required for the patterning can be reduced, and aproducing cost can thus be reduced.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes thefirst transparent electrode film (transparent electrode film) 19 thatconstitutes the pixel electrode 11 g. At least the first transparentelectrode film 19 is included in the conductive film. According to thisconfiguration, it is possible to provide the pixel electrode 11 g inaddition to the touch line 15 and the source line 11 j by patterning thecommon first transparent electrode film 19 included in the conductivefilm. Thus, the photomasks or the like required for the patterning canbe further reduced, and a producing cost can thus be further reduced.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes the gateline (scan line) 11 i that extends so as to intersect with the sourceline 11 j and the touch line 15 and transmits the scan signal and theTFT (switching component) 11 f that is connected to the pixel electrode11 g, the source line 11 j, and the gate line 11 i, is driven on thebasis of the scan signal, and charges the pixel electrode 11 g with thepotential based on the image signal. The pair of gate lines 11 isandwiched between the pixel electrodes 11 g adjacent to each other arearranged so as to be spaced apart from and be parallel to each other,while at least two TFTs 11 f are arranged so as to be connected to eachof the pair of gate lines 11 i, the source line 11 j, and at least twopixel electrodes 11 g arranged so as to sandwich the source line 11 j.According to this configuration, when the input timings of the scansignals for the pair of gate lines 11 i are made different from eachother and the image signals are input to the source line 11 j insynchronization with the input timings, the at least two TFTs 11 f aredriven at different timings, and the at least two pixel electrodes 11 gsandwiching the source line 11 j can be each charged with the potentialsbased on the image signals input to the source line 11 j at thedifferent timings.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes thecommon electrode 11 h that is arranged so as to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrode 11 g with the inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film (insulating film) 21 interposed therebetween, isdivided to constitute the touch electrodes 14, and has the partitionopening 11 h 2 partitioning between the touch electrodes 14 adjacent toeach other. The common electrode 11 h is arranged such that at least apart of the partition opening 11 h 2 is positioned between the pair ofgate lines 11 i. According to this configuration, since the partitionopening 11 h 2 is arranged by effectively using the interval providedbetween the pair of gate lines 11 i, the aperture ratio can be kept highas compared with a case where the partition opening is arranged so as tooverlap the pixel electrode 11 g. In addition, such a configuration issuitable for equalizing the parasitic capacitances generated between thepair of gate lines 11 i and the common electrode 11 h as compared with acase where the partition opening is arranged so as to overlap one gateline 11 i and not to overlap the other gate line 11 i. Furthermore,since an electric field generated between the gate lines 11 i and thecommon electrode 11 h can be shielded by the common electrode 11 hitself, in a case of controlling the alignment of the liquid crystalmolecules by an electric field generated between the pixel electrode 11g and the common electrode 11 h, it is difficult for the alignmentdisorder of the liquid crystal molecules to occur.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes thecommon electrode 11 h that is arranged so as to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrode 11 g with the inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film 21 interposed therebetween and is divided toconstitute the touch electrodes 14. The touch line 15 is connected tothe touch electrode 14 through the contact hole 23 positioned betweenthe pair of gate lines 11 i in the inter-transparent electrode filminsulating film 21 and opened and formed. Since the contact hole 23connecting any one of the touch electrodes 14 formed by dividing thecommon electrode 11 h and the touch line 15 to each other is opened andformed in the inter-transparent electrode film insulating film 21interposed between the common electrode 11 h and the pixel electrode 11g, in the case of controlling the alignment of the liquid crystalmolecules by the electric field generated between the pixel electrode 11g and the common electrode 11 h, it is easy for the alignment disorderof the liquid crystal molecules to occur in the vicinity of the contacthole 23, such that there is a possibility that a display defect willoccur. In that respect, as described above, the contact hole 23 isarranged between the pair of gate lines 11 i and is arranged so as to bespaced apart from the pixel electrode 11 g contributing to display.Therefore, it is difficult for a display defect caused by the contacthole 23 to occur, and an aperture ratio can thus be kept high.

In addition, the touch electrode 14 has the source line overlappingopening (signal line overlapping opening) 24 arranged so as to overlapat least a part of the source line 11 j. According to thisconfiguration, since the touch electrode 14 has the source lineoverlapping opening 24 arranged so as to overlap at least a part of thesource line 11 j, the parasitic capacitance that can be generatedbetween the source line 11 j and the touch electrode 14 is reduced.Thus, the sensitivity and the display quality related to the positiondetection are further improved.

In addition, the touch electrode 14 has the touch line overlappingopening (position detection line overlapping opening) 25 arranged so asto overlap at least a part of the touch line 15. According to thisconfiguration, since the touch electrode 14 has the touch lineoverlapping opening 25 arranged so as to overlap at least a part of thetouch line 15, the parasitic capacitance that can be generated betweenthe touch line 15 and the touch electrode 14 is reduced. Thus, thesensitivity related to the position detection is improved.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes thecommon electrode 11 h that is arranged so as to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrode 11 g with the inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film 21 interposed therebetween, is divided toconstitute the touch electrodes 14, and has the partition opening 11 h 2partitioning between the touch electrodes 14 adjacent to each other. Thecommon electrode 11 h is arranged such that the partition opening 11 h 2overlaps at least some of at least either one of the source lines 11 jand the touch lines 15. According to this configuration, the partitionopening 11 h 2 partitioning between the touch electrodes 14 adjacent toeach other is arranged so as to overlap at least some of at least eitherone of the source lines 11 j and the touch lines 15, such that it ispossible to reduce the parasitic capacitance that can be generatedbetween the source line 11 j and the touch electrode 14 or the parasiticcapacitance that can be generated between the touch line 15 and thetouch electrode 14. As such, it is possible to achieve the reduction inthe parasitic capacitance using the partition opening 11 h 2, which isan existing structure. An aperture ratio can be kept high as comparedwith a case where the partition opening is arranged so as not to overlapthe source line 11 j or the touch line 15 and so as to overlap the pixelelectrode 11 g.

In addition, the common electrode 11 h is arranged such that thepartition opening 11 h 2 selectively overlaps at least some of the touchlines 15. In a case where the partition opening is arranged so as tooverlap at least some of the source lines 11 j, the partition openingdoes not overlap all of the at least two source lines 11 j. Therefore,the source lines that do not overlap the partition opening among the atleast two source lines 11 j are generated. As a result, there is apossibility that loads of each source line 11 j will become non-uniform.In that respect, as described above, the partition opening 11 h 2 isarranged so as to selectively overlap at least some of the touch lines15, and loads of the at least two source lines 11 j can thus be keptuniform. Thus, it is possible to suppress a display defect such asluminance unevenness or the like and it is possible to reduce theparasitic capacitance that can be generated between the touch line 15and the touch electrode 14.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 7 to 10. In the second embodiment, it is illustratedthat an interlayer insulating film 28 is added. Note that an overlappingdescription for a structure, an action, and an effect similar to thoseof the first embodiment described above is omitted.

An array substrate 111 b according to the present embodiment is providedwith an interlayer insulating film 28 interposed between a firsttransparent electrode film 119 and a second metal film 120, asillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The interlayer insulating film 28 isformed of an inorganic material, similar to an inter-transparentelectrode film insulating film 121, and maintains the first transparentelectrode film 119 and the second metal film 120 in an insulating state.The first transparent electrode film 119 is arranged on an upper layerside with respect to the interlayer insulating film 28, while the secondmetal film 120 is arranged on a lower layer side with respect to theinterlayer insulating film 28. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, asource line 111 j and a touch line 115 are composed of only the secondmetal film 120. Therefore, the interlayer insulating film 28 isinterposed between the source line 111 j and the touch line 115 composedof the second metal film 120 and a pixel electrode 111 g composed of thefirst transparent electrode film 119. Furthermore, the interlayerinsulating film 28 and the inter-transparent electrode film insulatingfilm 121 are interposed between the source line 111 j and the touch line115 composed of the second metal film 120 and a touch electrode 114(common electrode 111 h) composed of a second transparent electrode film122. Thus, in comparison with the first embodiment described above, adistance between the source line 111 j and the touch line 115, and thetouch electrode 114 is increased by a thickness of the interlayerinsulating film 28, and a parasitic capacitance that can be generatedbetween the source line 111 j and the touch line 115, and the touchelectrode 114 is thus reduced. Therefore, sensitivity and displayquality related to position detection are further improved. In addition,a contact hole 123 for connecting the touch electrode 114 and the touchline 115 to each other is opened and formed so as to communicate withthe inter-transparent electrode film insulating film 121 and theinterlayer insulating film 28, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

In the present embodiment, the inter-transparent electrode filminsulating film 121 has a thickness smaller than that of the interlayerinsulating film 28, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. According to such aconfiguration, since an interval between the pixel electrode 111 g andthe common electrode 111 h is reduced, an electric field generatedbetween both the electrodes 111 g and 111 h (particularly, an electricfield in a horizontal direction with respect to a substrate in a liquidcrystal display device in a horizontal electric field mode) becomesstronger, and thus, display quality is further improved. On the otherhand, the interlayer insulating film 28 has a thickness larger than thatof the inter-transparent electrode film insulating film 121, such thatan interval between the source line 111 j and the touch line 115, andthe touch electrode 114 is increased. Thus, the parasitic capacitancethat can be generated between the source line 111 j and the touch line115, and the touch electrode 114 is further reduced. Therefore, thesensitivity and the display quality related to the position detectionare further improved. In addition, a source electrode 111 f 2 and adrain electrode 111 f 3 constituting a TFT 111 f are composed of onlythe second metal film 120, similar to the source line 111 j and thetouch line 115. Therefore, the drain electrode 111 f 3 is connected to acontact portion 111 g 2 of the pixel electrode 111 g composed of thefirst transparent electrode film 119 through a pixel contact hole 29formed in the interlayer insulating film 28, as illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8. The pixel contact hole 29 is arranged in a plane at a positionwhere the drain electrode 111 f 3 of each TFT 111 f and the contactportion 111 g 2 of each pixel electrode 111 g overlap each other.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the liquidcrystal display device includes the first transparent electrode film 119that constitutes one of the pixel electrode 111 g and the touchelectrode 114, the second transparent electrode film 122 thatconstitutes the other of the pixel electrode 111 g and the touchelectrode 114 and has the inter-transparent electrode film insulatingfilm 121 interposed between the first transparent electrode film 119 andthe second transparent electrode film 122, and the second metal film(metal film) 120 that is arranged on a side opposite to a side of thesecond transparent electrode film 122 with respect to the firsttransparent electrode film 119 and has the interlayer insulating film 28interposed between the first transparent electrode film 119 and thesecond metal film 120. At least the second metal film 120 is included ina conductive film. According to this configuration, as compared with acase where the conductive film includes the first transparent electrodefilm 119, a distance between the touch line 115 and the source line 111j, and the touch electrode 114 is increased by the thickness of theinterlayer insulating film 28. Thus, the parasitic capacitance that canbe generated between the touch line 115 and the source line 111 j, andthe touch electrode 114 is reduced, and the sensitivity and thus, thedisplay quality related to the position detection are further improved.In addition, since a distance between a gate line 111 i and the touchelectrode 115 is also increased by the thickness of the interlayerinsulating film 28, the parasitic capacitance that can be generatedbetween the gate line 111 i and the touch electrode 115 is reduced.

In addition, the liquid crystal display device further includes thecommon electrode 111 h that is arranged so as to at least partiallyoverlap the pixel electrode 111 g with the inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film 121 interposed therebetween and is divided toconstitute the touch electrodes 114. The inter-transparent electrodefilm insulating film 121 has the thickness smaller than that of theinterlayer insulating film 28. According to such a configuration, sincethe interval between the pixel electrode 111 g and the common electrode111 h is reduced, the electric field generated between both theelectrodes 111 g and 111 h becomes stronger, and thus, the displayquality is further improved. On the other hand, the interlayerinsulating film 28 has the thickness larger than that of theinter-transparent electrode film insulating film 121, such that theinterval between the touch line 115 and the source line 111 j, and thetouch electrode 114 is increased. Thus, the parasitic capacitance thatcan be generated between the touch line 115 and the source line 111 j,and the touch electrode 114 is further reduced. Therefore, thesensitivity and the display quality related to the position detectionare further improved.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 11 or FIG. 12. In the third embodiment, it isillustrated that an arrangement of a touch line 215 is changed from thesecond embodiment described above and a third metal film 30 is added.Note that an overlapping description for a structure, an action, and aneffect similar to those of the second embodiment described above isomitted.

An array substrate 211 b according to the present embodiment is providedwith a third metal film 30 interposed between a first transparentelectrode film 219 and an inter-transparent electrode film insulatingfilm 221, as illustrated in FIG. 11. The third metal film 30 is a singlelayer film formed of one type of metal material or a laminate film or analloy formed of different types of metal materials to have conductivityand a light blocking property, similar to a first metal film 216 and asecond metal film 220. The touch line 215 has a laminated structure ofthe first transparent electrode film 219 and the third metal film 30.That is, the touch line 215 is arranged on an upper layer side of aninterlayer insulating film 228 and is arranged on the same layer as thatof a pixel electrode 211 g composed of the first transparent electrodefilm 219, but is arranged on an upper layer side of a source line 211 jcomposed of the second metal film 220 with the interlayer insulatingfilm 228 interposed therebetween. Therefore, as compared with a casewhere the source line 11 j and the touch line 15 are arranged on thesame layer as in the first embodiment described above, an intervalbetween the source line 211 j and a touch electrode 214 is increased bya thickness of the interlayer insulating film 228. Thus, a parasiticcapacitance that can be generated between the source line 211 j and thetouch electrode 214 is reduced, and thus, sensitivity and displayquality related to position detection are further improved. In addition,a contact hole 223 for connecting the touch electrode 214 and the touchline 215 to each other is opened and formed only in theinter-transparent electrode film insulating film 221, as illustrated inFIG. 12.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the liquidcrystal display device includes the first transparent electrode film 219that constitutes one of the pixel electrode 211 g and the touchelectrode 214, a second transparent electrode film 222 that constitutesthe other of the pixel electrode 211 g and the touch electrode 214 andhas the inter-transparent electrode film insulating film 221 interposedbetween the first transparent electrode film 219 and the secondtransparent electrode film 222, and the second metal film 220 that isarranged on a side opposite to a side of the second transparentelectrode film 222 with respect to the first transparent electrode film219 and has the interlayer insulating film 228 interposed between thefirst transparent electrode film 219 and the second metal film 220. Thefirst transparent electrode film 219 constitutes at least a part of thetouch line 215, while the second metal film 220 constitutes at least apart of the source line 211 j. According to this configuration, ascompared with a case where the first transparent electrode film 219constitutes at least a part of the source line in addition to the touchline 215, the interval between the source line 211 j and the touchelectrode 214 is increased by the thickness of the interlayer insulatingfilm 228. Thus, a parasitic capacitance that can be generated betweenthe source line 211 j and the touch electrode 214 is reduced, and thus,sensitivity and display quality related to position detection arefurther improved. In addition, since a distance between a gate line 211i and the touch electrode 215 is also increased by the thickness of theinterlayer insulating film 228, the parasitic capacitance that can begenerated between the gate line 211 i and the touch electrode 215 isreduced.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 13 or FIG. 14. In the fourth embodiment, it isillustrated that a configuration of a touch line 315 is changed from thethird embodiment described above. Note that an overlapping descriptionfor a structure, an action, and an effect similar to those of the thirdembodiment described above is omitted.

The touch line 315 according to the present embodiment includes a firsttouch line 315A composed of a second metal film 320 and a second touchline 315B having a laminated structure of a first transparent electrodefilm 319 and a third metal film 330, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.Both of the first touch line 315A and the second touch line 315B extendalong a Y-axis direction, overlap each other, and have line widths thatare substantially the same as each other. A touch line contact hole(contact hole) 31 is opened and formed at a position where the firsttouch line 315A and the second touch line 315B overlap each other, in aninterlayer insulating film 328 interposed between the second metal film320 constituting the first touch line 315A and the first transparentelectrode film 319 constituting a part of the second touch line 315B.The first touch line 315A arranged on a lower layer side with respect tothe interlayer insulating film 328 and the second touch line 315Barranged on an upper layer side with respect to the interlayerinsulating film 328 are electrically connected to each other through thetouch line contact hole 31. The touch line contact holes 31 are arrangedin the interlayer insulating film 328 at positions between a pair ofgate lines 311 i in the Y-axis direction, that is, positions that do notoverlap pixel electrodes 311 g. Therefore, the touch line contact holes31 include a touch line contact hole 31 arranged so as to overlap acontact hole 323 for connecting a touch electrode 314 and the touch line315 to each other. According to such a configuration, even in a casewhere a disconnection or the like occurs in any one of the first touchline 315A and the second touch line 315B, if a disconnection or the likedoes not occur in the other of the first touch line 315A and the secondtouch line 315B, an electrical function of the touch line 315 can beexerted, which is suitable for ensuring redundancy. In addition, sincethe first touch line 315A composed of the second metal film 320 and thesecond touch line 315B including the first transparent electrode film319 overlap each other and are connected to each other through the touchline contact hole 31 opened and formed in the interlayer insulating film328, a line resistance of the touch line 315 can be suitably reduced,and sensitivity related to position detection can thus be furtherimproved. In addition, as compared with a case where the source line 11j and the touch line 15 are arranged on the same layer as in the firstembodiment described above, a distance between a source line 311 j andthe touch electrode 314 is increased by a thickness of the interlayerinsulating film 328. Thus, a parasitic capacitance that can be generatedbetween the source line 311 j and the touch electrode 314 is reduced,and thus, sensitivity and display quality related to position detectionare further improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the liquidcrystal display device includes the first transparent electrode film 319that constitutes one of the pixel electrode 311 g and the touchelectrode 314, a second transparent electrode film 322 that constitutesthe other of the pixel electrode 311 g and the touch electrode 314 andhas an inter-transparent electrode film insulating film 321 interposedbetween the first transparent electrode film 319 and the secondtransparent electrode film 322, and the second metal film 320 that isarranged on a side opposite to a side of the second transparentelectrode film 322 with respect to the first transparent electrode film31 and has the interlayer insulating film 328 interposed between thefirst transparent electrode film 319 and the second metal film 320. Thesecond metal film 320 constitutes at least a part of the source line 311j and the first touch line (first position detection line) 315A which isa part of the touch line 315, while the first transparent electrode film319 constitutes the second touch line (second position detection line)315B arranged so as to overlap the first touch line 315A which is a partof the touch line 315 and connected to the first touch line 315A throughthe touch line contact hole (contact hole) 31 opened and formed in theinterlayer insulating film 328. According to this configuration, even ina case where the disconnection or the like occurs in any one of thefirst touch line 315A and the second touch line 315B, if thedisconnection or the like does not occur in the other of the first touchline 315A and the second touch line 315B, the electrical function of thetouch line 315 can be exerted, which is suitable for ensuring theredundancy. In addition, since the first touch line 315A composed of thesecond metal film 320 and the second touch line 315B composed of thefirst transparent electrode film 319 overlap each other and areconnected to each other through the touch line contact hole 31 openedand formed in the interlayer insulating film 328, the line resistance ofthe touch line 315 can be reduced, and the sensitivity related toposition detection can thus be improved. In addition, since the secondmetal film 320 constitutes at least a part of the source line 311 j, ascompared with a case where the first transparent electrode film 319constitutes at least a part of the source line 311 j, the distancebetween the source line 311 j and the touch electrode 314 is increasedby the thickness of the interlayer insulating film 328. Thus, aparasitic capacitance that can be generated between the source line 311j and the touch electrode 314 is reduced, and thus, sensitivity anddisplay quality related to position detection are further improved.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 15. In the fifth embodiment, it is illustrated that anarrangement of respective lead lines 426 and 427 is changed from thefirst embodiment described above. Note that an overlapping descriptionfor a structure, an action, and an effect similar to those of the firstembodiment described above is omitted.

Source lead lines 426 and touch lead lines 427 according to the presentembodiment are led in parallel with each other in a non-display area NAAof an array substrate 411 b, as illustrated in FIG. 15. In detail, themultiple source lead lines 426 and the multiple touch lead lines 427 areled in a substantially fan shape from a display area AA in which sourcelines (not illustrated) and touch line 415, which are targets to beconnected, and extend in parallel with each other until they arrive at adriver 412, such that they are prevented from intersecting with eachother in the middle. Thus, it is difficult for a parasitic capacitanceto be generated between the source lead lines 426 and the touch leadlines 427, and thus sensitivity and display quality related to positiondetection are further improved. In addition, in the driver 412, circuitsfor outputting an image signals to the source lead lines 426 andcircuits for outputting touch signals to the touch lead lines 427 aredistributed and arranged over substantially the entire length.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the liquidcrystal display device includes the display area AA in which at leastpixel electrodes, touch electrodes 414, the touch lines 415, and thesource lines are arranged to display an image, the non-display area NAAthat surrounds the display area AA, the driver (driving circuit portion)412 that is mounted in the non-display area NAA, the source lead lines(signal lead lines) 426 that are disposed in the non-display area NAAand have one ends connected to the source lines and the other endsconnected to the driver 412, and the touch lead lines (positiondetection lead lines) 427 that are arranged in the non-display area NAAand have one ends connected to the touch lines 415 and the other endsconnected to the driver 412. The source lead lines 426 and the touchlead lines 427 extend in parallel with each other. According to thisconfiguration, the respective signals output from the driver 412 aretransmitted to the source lines through the source lead lines 426 and tothe touch lines 415 through the touch lead lines 427. Since the sourcelead lines 426 and the touch lead lines 427 extend in parallel with eachother and are prevented from intersecting with each other in the middle,it is difficult for a parasitic capacitance to be generated between thesource lead line 426 and the touch lead line 427. Therefore, sensitivityand display quality related to position detection are improved.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described withreference to the above description and drawings, and, for example, thefollowing embodiments are also included in the technical scope of thepresent invention.

(1) As a first modification of the second embodiment described above, asillustrated in FIG. 16, a planarizing film 32 may be added between aninterlayer insulating film 28-1 and a first transparent electrode film119-1. The planarizing film 32 according to the first modification isformed of an organic material (for example, an acrylic resin material),and has a thickness larger than that of any of a gate insulating film17-1, the interlayer insulating film 28-1, and an inter-transparentelectrode film insulating film 121-1 formed of an inorganic material.According to such a configuration, since a larger interval is providedbetween a source line 111 j-1 and a touch line 115-1, and a pixelelectrode 111 g-1 or a touch electrode 114-1, sensitivity and displayquality related to position detection are further improved.

(2) As a second modification of the second embodiment described above,as illustrated in FIG. 17, arrangements of a common electrode 111 h-2and a touch electrode 114-2, and a pixel electrode 111 g-2 can beswitched with each other. The common electrode 111 h-2 and the touchelectrode 114-2 according to the second modification are composed of afirst transparent electrode film 119-2, while the pixel electrode 111g-2 is formed of a second transparent electrode film 122-2. According tosuch a configuration, since an interlayer insulating film 28-2 and aninter-transparent electrode film insulating film 121-2 are interposedbetween a source line 111 j-2 and the pixel electrode 111 g-2, aninterval between the source line 111 j-2 and the pixel electrode 111 g-2is increased by a thickness of the inter-transparent electrode filminsulating film 121-2, and thus, display quality is further improved.Note that the pixel electrodes 111 g-2 are provided with commonelectrode overlapping openings 33 arranged so as to overlap the commonelectrode 111 h-2. The common electrode overlapping opening 33 has thesame structure and function as those of the pixel overlapping opening 11h 1 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 4).

(3) As a third modification of the second embodiment described above, asillustrated in FIG. 18, a planarizing film 32-3 may be added to theconfiguration of the second modification of (2) described above. Theplanarizing film 32-3 is similar to described in the first modificationof (1) described above, and is interposed between an interlayerinsulating film 28-3 and a first transparent electrode film 119-3.According to such a configuration, since a larger interval is providedbetween a source line 111 j-3 and a touch line 115-3, and a pixelelectrode 111 g-3 or a touch electrode 114-3, sensitivity and displayquality related to position detection are further improved.

(4) As a fourth modification of the third embodiment described above, asillustrated in FIG. 19, a planarizing film 32-4 may be added between aninterlayer insulating film 228-4 and a first transparent electrode film219-4. The planarizing film 32-4 is similar to that described in thefirst modification of (1) described above. According to such aconfiguration, since a larger interval is provided between a gate line(not illustrated) and a source line 211 j-4, and a pixel electrode 211g-4 or a touch electrode 214-4, sensitivity and display quality relatedto position detection are further improved.

(5) As a fifth modification of the fourth embodiment described above, asillustrated in FIG. 20, a planarizing film 32-5 may be added between aninterlayer insulating film 328-5 and a first transparent electrode film319-5. The planarizing film 32-5 is similar to that described in thefirst modification of (1) described above. According to such aconfiguration, since a larger interval is provided between a gate line(not illustrated) and a source line 311 j-5, and a pixel electrode 311g-5 or a touch electrode 314-5, sensitivity and display quality relatedto position detection are further improved.

(6) As a modification of the first embodiment described above, it ispossible to adopt a configuration in which a source line and a touchline are composed only of a second metal film.

(7) As a modification of the first embodiment described above,arrangements of circuits for outputting image signals and circuits foroutputting touch signals in a driver can be appropriately changed, andleading routes of source lead lines and touch lead lines can beappropriately changed according to the change in the arrangement.

(8) As a modification of the third embodiment described above, it ispossible to adopt a configuration in which a touch line is composed onlyof a third metal film.

(9) As a modification of the fourth embodiment described above, it ispossible to adopt a configuration in which a second touch line iscomposed only of a third metal film.

(10) As a modification of the fourth embodiment described above, it ispossible to omit a third metal film. In that case, a second touch lineis composed only of a first transparent electrode film.

(11) In the configurations described in the first, third, fourth, andfifth embodiments, the technical items described in the secondmodification of (2) described above are applied, and arrangements of thecommon electrode and the touch electrode, and the pixel electrode can beswitched with each other.

(12) In each of the embodiments described above, a case where linewidths of the source line and the touch line are the same as each otherhas been described, but the line widths of the source line and the touchline can also be different from each other.

(13) In each of the embodiments described above, a case where the sourceline overlapping opening and the touch line overlapping opening arearranged to so as to be aligned with each other in the Y-axis directionhas been described, the source line overlapping opening and the touchline overlapping opening may be arranged so as to be offset from eachother in the Y-axis direction. In addition, length dimensions of thesource line overlapping opening and the touch line overlapping openingin the Y-axis direction or width dimensions of the source lineoverlapping opening and the touch line overlapping opening in the X-axisdirection may be different from each other.

(14) In addition to each of the embodiments described above, a specificplane arrangement of the contact hole for connecting the touch electrodeand the touch line to each other can be appropriately changed.

(15) Of course, it is possible to suitably combine the technical itemsdescribed in each of the embodiments described above with each other.

(16) In each of the embodiments described above, a case where the sourcelines and the touch lines extend substantially straightly along theY-axis direction has been described, but the source lines and the touchlines may also have an oblique extending portion that partially extendsalong an oblique direction with respect to the Y-axis direction. In thatcase, a part (long side portion) of an external shape of the pixelelectrode can be parallel to the oblique extending portion.

(17) In each of the embodiments described above, a case where the lightblocking portion is provided on a side of the CF substrate has beendescribed, but the light blocking portion may also be provided on a sideof the array substrate.

(18) In addition to each of the embodiments described above, thesemiconductor film constituting the channel portion of the TFT may alsobe formed of polysilicon. In that case, the TFT is preferably a bottomgate type TFT.

(19) In each of the embodiments described above, a case where the touchpanel pattern is configured in the self-capacitance manner has beendescribed, but the touch panel pattern may also be configured in amutual capacitance manner.

(20) In each of the embodiments described above, the transmissive liquidcrystal panel has been exemplified, but the present invention can alsobe applied to a reflective liquid crystal panel or a transflectiveliquid crystal panel.

(21) In each of the embodiments described above, a case where the planeshape of the liquid crystal display device (the liquid crystal panel orthe backlight device) is the vertically long rectangular shape has beendescribed, but the plane shape of the liquid crystal display device mayalso be a horizontally long rectangular shape, a square shape, acircular shape, a semicircular shape, an oval shape, an ellipsoidalshape, a trapezoidal shape, or the like.

(22) In each of the embodiments described above, the liquid crystalpanel having a configuration in which the liquid crystal layer issandwiched between the pair of substrates has been described, but thepresent invention can also be applied to a display panel in whichfunctional organic molecules other than the liquid crystal material issandwiched between the pair of substrates.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

-   -   10: Liquid crystal display device (Display device with position        input function)    -   11 f, 11 f: TFT (Switching component)    -   11 g, 11 g, 111 g-1, 111 g-2, 111 g-3, 211 g, 211 g-4, 311 g,        311 g-5: Pixel electrode    -   11 h, 111 h, 111 h-2: Common electrode    -   11 h 2: Partition opening    -   11 i, 311 i: Gate line (Scan line)    -   11 j, 111 j, 111 j-1, 111 j-2, 111 j-3, 211 j, 211 j-4, 311 j,    -   311 j-5: Source line (Signal line)    -   12, 412: Driver (Driving circuit portion)    -   14, 114, 114-1, 114-2, 114-3, 214, 214-4, 314, 314-5, 414: Touch        electrode (Position detection electrode)    -   15, 115, 115-1, 115-3, 215, 315, 415: Touch line (Position        detection line)    -   19, 119, 119-1, 119-2, 119-3, 219, 219-4, 319, 319-5: First        transparent electrode film (Conductive film, Transparent        electrode film)    -   20, 120, 220, 320: Second metal film (Conductive Film, Metal        film)    -   21, 121, 121-1, 121-2, 221, 321: Inter-transparent electrode        film insulating film    -   22, 122, 122-2, 222, 322: Second transparent electrode film    -   23, 123, 223, 323: Contact hole    -   24: Source line overlapping opening (Signal line overlapping        opening)    -   25: Touch line overlapping opening (Position detection line        overlapping opening)    -   26, 426: Source lead line (Signal lead line)    -   27, 427: Touch lead line (Position detection lead line)    -   28, 28-1, 28-2, 28-3, 228, 228-4, 328, 328-5: Interlayer        insulating film    -   31: Touch line contact hole (Contact hole)    -   315A: First touch line (First position detection line)    -   315B: Second touch line (Second position detection line)    -   AA: Display area    -   NAA: Non-display area

1. A display device including a position input function, comprising: pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix along a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the pixel electrodes including a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode being adjacent to each other in the second direction; position detection electrodes arranged in a matrix along the first direction and the second direction to overlap with the pixel electrodes; a position detection line extending in the first direction and coupled to one of the position detection electrodes; signal lines extending in the first direction to transmit image signals to the pixel electrodes, the signal lines including a first signal line opposite a first side edge of the position detection line and a second signal line opposite a second side edge of the position detection line, the first side edge and the second side edge of the position detection line being opposite to each other in the second direction; scan lines extending in the second direction to transmit scan signals; and switching components coupled to the pixel electrodes, the signal lines, and the scan lines, wherein the first pixel electrode includes a first pixel electrode body between the position detection line and the first signal line and a first contact portion protruding from the first pixel electrode body, the second pixel electrode includes a second pixel electrode body between the position detection line and the second signal line and a second contact portion protruding from the second pixel electrode body, and the switching components include a first switching component coupled to the first contact portion of the first pixel electrode and a second switching component coupled to the second contact portion of the second pixel electrode.
 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the scan lines include two scan lines, the first switching component is coupled to one of the two scan lines, and the second switching component is coupled to the other of the two scan lines.
 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the one of the position detection electrodes overlaps with at least the first pixel electrode body of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode body of the second pixel electrode, the one of the position detection electrodes includes a first group of pixel overlapping openings and a second group of pixel overlapping openings, the first group of pixel overlapping openings overlaps with the first pixel electrode body of the first pixel electrode, and the second group of pixel overlapping openings overlaps with the second pixel electrode body of the second pixel electrode.
 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first switching component is opposite the first side edge of the position detection line, and the second switching component is opposite the second side edge of the position detection line.
 5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating film between the position detection electrodes and the switching components, wherein the insulating film includes at least one contact hole through which the first pixel electrode is coupled to the first switching component.
 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection electrodes include a first position detection electrode and a second position detection electrode separated from each other by a first partition opening that extends in the first direction, the signal lines include a third signal line and a fourth signal line, the pixel electrodes include a third pixel electrode and a fourth pixel electrode that are adjacent to each other in the second direction, the third pixel electrode includes a third pixel electrode body and a third contact portion protruding from the third pixel electrode body, the fourth pixel electrode includes a fourth pixel electrode body and a fourth contact portion protruding from the fourth pixel electrode body, and the switching components include a third switching component coupled to the third contact portion of the third pixel electrode and a fourth switching component coupled to the fourth contact portion of the fourth pixel electrode. the third pixel electrode body and the fourth pixel electrode body are between the third signal line and the fourth signal line in the second direction, and a portion of the first partition opening overlaps with a gap between the third pixel electrode body and the fourth pixel electrode body.
 7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection electrodes include a first position detection electrode and a second position detection electrode separated from each other by a first partition opening that extends in the first direction, and a portion of the first partition opening overlaps with the position detection line.
 8. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the one of the position detection electrodes includes a position detection line overlapping opening that overlaps with at least a portion of the position detection line.
 9. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the one of the position detection electrodes includes a signal line overlapping opening that overlaps with at least a portion of the first signal line.
 10. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the pixel electrodes include a fifth pixel electrode adjacent to the first pixel electrode in the first direction, the position detection electrodes include a third position detection electrode adjacent to the first position detection electrode in the first direction, the first position detection electrode and the third position detection electrode are separated from each other by a second partition opening extending in the second direction, and a portion of the second partition opening overlaps with a portion of a gap between the first pixel electrode and the fifth pixel electrode.
 11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the position detection electrodes include a first position detection electrode and a second position detection electrode separated from each other by a first partition opening that extends in the first direction, the position detection electrodes include a third position detection electrode adjacent to the first position detection electrode in the first direction, the first position detection electrode and the third position detection electrode are separated from each other by a second partition opening extending in the second direction, the pixel electrodes include a fifth pixel electrode adjacent to the first pixel electrode in the first direction, and a portion of the second partition opening overlaps with a gap between the first pixel electrode and the fifth pixel electrode.
 12. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the scan lines include a first scan line and a second scan line disposed such that sections of the first scan line and the second scan line are in a gap between the first pixel electrode and the fifth pixel electrode, the first scan line and the second scan line are separated from each other in the first direction by a gap between the first scan line and the second scan line, and a part of the second partition opening overlaps with the gap between the first scan line and the second scan line.
 13. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the scan lines include a first scan line and a second scan line disposed such that sections of the first scan line and the second scan line are in a gap between the first pixel electrode and the fifth pixel electrode, the first scan line and the second scan line are separated from each other in the first direction by a gap between the first scan line and the second scan line, and a part of the second partition opening overlaps with the gap between the first scan line and the second scan line.
 14. The display device according to claim 10, further comprising an insulating film between the position detection electrodes and the position detection line, wherein the scan lines include a third scan line and a fourth scan line separated from each other in the first direction, the insulating film includes at least one contact hole, a part of the at least one contact hole is between the third scan line and the fourth scan line, and the position detection line is coupled to at least one of the position detection electrodes via the contact hole.
 15. The display device according to claim 11, further comprising an insulating film between the position detection electrodes and the position detection line, wherein the scan lines include a third scan line and a fourth scan line separated from each other in the first direction, the insulating film includes at least one contact hole, a part of the at least one contact hole is between the third scan line and the fourth scan line, and the position detection line is coupled to at least one of the position detection electrodes via the contact hole.
 16. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating film between the position detection line and the position detection electrodes, wherein the pixel electrodes include a sixth pixel electrode adjacent to the first pixel electrode in the first direction, the scan lines include a third scan line and a fourth scan line disposed such that sections of the third scan line and the fourth scan line are in a gap between the first pixel electrode and the sixth pixel electrode, the insulating film includes at least one contact hole, a part of the at least one contact hole is between the third scan line and the fourth scan line, and the position detection line is coupled to the one of the position detection electrodes via the contact hole.
 17. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the position detection line overlapping opening has a dimension along the first direction equal to a dimension of the pixel overlapping openings along the first direction.
 18. The display device according to claim 3, wherein each of the first group of pixel overlapping openings and the second group of pixel overlapping openings is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the pixel electrodes. 